Observation/Reflection #1: Starting From the Beginning
During this observation, focus on how class begins. Where is your CT before class begins? What is he or she doing? Using the clock on the wall, determine when your CT establishes order and begins class. How did she/he start their lesson? How is homework from the previous night reviewed/collected/assessed? How does your CT engage students during the opening of the lesson?
My CT is always at the front of class before it begins. She usually is taking attendance on the computer, talking with students from last class, or getting herself prepared for the next class. I have never seen her leave the classroom between classes, she is always there and available to talk to students about whatever they need. My CT begins class usually right on time, exactly when the bell rings she give students about 15-30 seconds to get in their assigned seats and get their binder and book out in front of them. The students know when she is starting class because she stands in front of her desk, and quietly crosses her arms, or looks at the students, and they know that it is time to begin class. My CT usually starts the lesson by telling the students an overview of what they are going to learn and accomplish today. She asks questions about what they did the previous classes, to activate prior knowledge, and then says where the class will be going in the future. Homework from the previous night is checked right after she tells the class what they will be doing for the day. She goes around the classroom with her gradebook, and sees if students completed the homework to the bst of their ability and grades it out of 10 points. She usually starts the lesson in an exciting way, by showing a video clip, a news clip, or starting with an interesting problem/question. This always catches the students attention and prepares them to do work. After talking to students in her class, they say that the beginning of a lesson is the favorite part of my CT's class.
I think that my CT does an excellent job at starting her classes. I will probably do the same things when I am teaching. I believe that staying in the classroom between classes gives students a chance to talk to you about their grades, or any other issues they may need to talk about. In order to foster strong relationships, I need to make myself available to students to talk. I like how my CT starts the class by using silent cues to let students know class is starting. I do not want to be a teacher that yells to start a class, I feel this starts the class off on a negative note. The students know what is expected of them, because my CT does this everyday, the students know the routine. I think that whenever you start a lesson plan, it is essential that you catch the students attention and engage them in the lesson. Showing the students an appropriate youtube clip, or a news clip is a great way to catch the students attention. I plan on using these strategies when I begin teaching.
Observation/Reflection #1: Starting From the Beginning
During this observation, focus on how class begins. Where is your CT before class begins? What is he or she doing? Using the clock on the wall, determine when your CT establishes order and begins class. How did she/he start their lesson? How is homework from the previous night reviewed/collected/assessed? How does your CT engage students during the opening of the lesson?My CT is always at the front of class before it begins. She usually is taking attendance on the computer, talking with students from last class, or getting herself prepared for the next class. I have never seen her leave the classroom between classes, she is always there and available to talk to students about whatever they need. My CT begins class usually right on time, exactly when the bell rings she give students about 15-30 seconds to get in their assigned seats and get their binder and book out in front of them. The students know when she is starting class because she stands in front of her desk, and quietly crosses her arms, or looks at the students, and they know that it is time to begin class. My CT usually starts the lesson by telling the students an overview of what they are going to learn and accomplish today. She asks questions about what they did the previous classes, to activate prior knowledge, and then says where the class will be going in the future. Homework from the previous night is checked right after she tells the class what they will be doing for the day. She goes around the classroom with her gradebook, and sees if students completed the homework to the bst of their ability and grades it out of 10 points. She usually starts the lesson in an exciting way, by showing a video clip, a news clip, or starting with an interesting problem/question. This always catches the students attention and prepares them to do work. After talking to students in her class, they say that the beginning of a lesson is the favorite part of my CT's class.
I think that my CT does an excellent job at starting her classes. I will probably do the same things when I am teaching. I believe that staying in the classroom between classes gives students a chance to talk to you about their grades, or any other issues they may need to talk about. In order to foster strong relationships, I need to make myself available to students to talk. I like how my CT starts the class by using silent cues to let students know class is starting. I do not want to be a teacher that yells to start a class, I feel this starts the class off on a negative note. The students know what is expected of them, because my CT does this everyday, the students know the routine. I think that whenever you start a lesson plan, it is essential that you catch the students attention and engage them in the lesson. Showing the students an appropriate youtube clip, or a news clip is a great way to catch the students attention. I plan on using these strategies when I begin teaching.